A Slide Into First ➵ narry

Chapter 10

Zayn’s second official party was fully under way when Harry found himself sprawled across the familiar sofa with a familiar Louis weighing him down. They were drunk already (like really, properly, totally smashed) and they were taking in their surroundings, curled into one another like clingy koalas. Zayn was talking to one of his school friends that had come to visit him – a blonde with a Canadian accent and an infectious giggle, Liam was drinking (surprisingly) with Pablo from the concession stand, a few people were dancing, a gaggle of others were taking Jell-O shots, and all the rest were mingling around and generally trying to be social.

Louis and Harry were content in their silent happiness. Harry knew that he got quiet when tipsy so that wasn’t weird, but Louis usually talked up a storm as soon as he got within sniffing distance of alcohol. For now though, Louis had one arm looped around Harry that was playing carefully with his hair while the other held onto an empty bottle of bourbon like his life depended on it. Harry liked Louis like this: quiet, demure, satisfied with his legs thrown over Harry like they weren’t still connected to his body. Louis’s personality was dominant, loud, and extravagant, but Harry was pretty sure this softer side held a Louis all its own. A type of Jekyll/Hyde type thing, if you will. At least Harry assumed so, he pretty much SparkNoted that book back in 10th grade and never looked back.

“Whatcha thinking ‘bout?” Louis asked, his head resting on Harry’s shoulder.

Harry considered lying, considered it really hard, but he ended up saying, “Niall,” after only a few seconds because it was truly all he could think about.

“Would’ve called you a liar if you had said anything else,”

“Then why’d you ask, Dumbo?”

“Just to make sure. Where is he tonight?”

“Fucking… Midland. Hour and a half away and I can’t see him. Torture, I tell you. Should be outlawed,”

“We should go see him,” Louis suddenly said, springing to life on top of Harry and staring straight into his eyes, “We should jump in the car, drive to whatever the fuck ‘Midland’ is, and throw rocks at Niall’s window until he comes outside and you make out and stuff. It would be very romantic. I would gag at how corny it is the entire way but I’d still do it,”

“Lou, fuck, we can’t drive. We probably shouldn’t even operate an elevator. Besides, he shares his room on away games. We’d have no privacy and that’s where all the fun stuff happens,”

Louis nodded in solemn agreement then returned his head to its resting place on Harry’s shoulder. He brought the bottle of bourbon up to his mouth only to pout when he realized that it was empty.

“You know, I never tell you this but you’re such a good friend,” he said into Harry’s ear.

“Oh, yeah?” Harry responded.

“Yeah, and you’ve got great hair, too. I’m always jealous of your hair,”

“Why thank you, kind sir,”

“No one ever tells people that they’re beautiful; always just assume that they know. Fuck that, everyone I know is gorgeous and I never tell them,” Louis started to say before turning to find Zayn in the room, “Zayn, you’re handsome, man, and I love you!” he yelled out.

“Thanks, Louis,” Zayn laughed as the blonde started poking at his high cheekbones.

“And Liam!” Louis yelled out again, “You’re so talented, I love it!”

Liam just blushed back, obviously not used to hearing nice things from his brother.

“And what exactly is he talented at?” Harry asked.